Dropshot rig

Dropshot Rig

Anytime the Bass prefer a slow presentation and are relating to or near the bottom this is a good rig to try. If the fish are not very aggressive I set up with a light rig, by light I mean 6 to 8 lb line with a #6 to #4 hook. Fluorocarbon is a must. The weight is 1/4 to 3/8 oz. A word of caution here with this light rig and small hook you can not set the hook like you were fishing a heavy jig. Use what is called a sweeping hook set that is take the slack out then just pull the rod sideways. The bass will set the hook for you.

If the bass are more aggressive I switch to heaver equipment like 10 to 15 lb Fluorocarbon line and a little larger hook and a weight of 3/8 to 1/2 oz.

How It’s Done: To start off I tie on the hook facing up, like in the picture. Leave the tag end about 6 to 18” long. At the tag end of the line tie on your weight so the hook rides at the desired depth. The manufactures make a special weight with a special look on the top and call it a dropshot weight but why pay when a regular worm weight works just as well.

Soft Plastics For Dropshot Rigging: For the light rig I prefer a short straight worm. For the heaver rig take your pick.

The picture shows a double clinch knot but I actually prefer a Palomar knot. Mostly because it is easier to tie.

Texas rig

This is the basic weedless rig that put soft plastic worms on the map. A Texas rig can be weighted for bottom fishing or unweighted for an excruciatingly slow fall or topwater fishing.

How It’s Done: Insert the point of the hook into the soft plastic no more than ½ inch before bringing the point back out. Slide the plastic lure up the hook (moisten the hook for best results) until the head of the lure covers the hook eye, then imbed the point back into the lure so it hangs straight. The hook point can be brought all the way through the lure and the tip barely imbedded back into the lure (called “skin-hooked”) or left to ride on top of the bait (called “Tex-posed). The result is a weedless lure that can be fished anywhere. When weighted, the Texas-rigged soft plastic can be worked at any depth and through most cover. Target cover, docks, rock-piles, weeds – anywhere fish live. Unweighted Texas rigs are used for slow sinking soft plastics like floating worms and top-waters.

Soft Plastics For Texas Rigging: All soft plastics can be Texas rigged with the correct size hook.

Carolina rig

The Carolina rig starts with a light wire hook and a Texas-rigged floating soft plastic, but instead of no weight or a free-sliding weight that rides at the head of the lure, a sliding weight (and often a bead or two to provide a “clacking” sound) is a foot or more in front of the lure. This rig allows the soft plastic bait to swim freely just above the bottom.

How It’s Done: Thread an sliding weight on the line, then a bead or two if you choose. Then, tie on a barrel swivel. The swivel will stop the weight from sliding all the way to the bait and will make a little noise as it’s slowly retrieved. A 1- to 4-foot length of Fluorocarbon line is tied to the other end of the swivel, and the hook tied to the tag end. Texas rig a soft plastic to the hook. Make long casts across points, cover and structure and allow it to sink to the bottom, then slowly retrieve with slow pulls and light twitches, or simply slowly reeled at a constant speed. Slow is the key word here.

Soft Plastics For Carolina Rigging: All soft plastics can be Carolina rigged, but most popular are lizards, worms, minnows and craws.

Different ways to rig soft pllastics

The Shaky Head Rig

Originally a Northern rig for smallmouth bass but largemouth and spotted bass anglers have discovered the Rig and are using it effectively. The Rig begins with a jighead with a longer-than-normal hook shank. The manufacturers make a special jig for this technique with a flat spot on the head of the jig to make the worm stand up. With money so tight I use a regular 3/8 to 1/2 oz. jig and grind a flat spot on the jig head so it lands on the bottom with the worm sticking up. Add a short (3 to 5”) straight, floating soft-plastic worm Texas-rigged.

How It’s Done: Tie on the jig and Texas rig a soft plastic worm. Cast and allow the lure to hit bottom, then with line taut, gently shake the rod tip to make the worm dance on bottom but not move along the bottom. After a few shakes without a bite pop the jig off of the bottom and start the process all over. The idea is as the name implies just shake it enough to make the worm wiggle in place. For our lake this technique works good around any brush, weeds and beds. They also can be used against vertical structure such as dam faces and bluff walls (which we don't have).

Soft Plastics For Rigs: Small 3 to 5” straight tailed floating worms.

28# flathead

This is a picture of a 28# flathead Rusty caught in the X block on a small perch.It put up a good fight and got a few people wet in the process.